Notice: Changes coming to ZipanguFlyer.

Effective October 25th, 2015, ZipanguFlyer will be changing coverage.

Boeing 787-8s of ANA and JAL at Haneda. Directly and indirectly, the two major carriers together still control, or have influence over, all domestic slots at Japan's most important airport serving the capital. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Until now, this blog has covered most, if not all of the news of airlines registered in Japan. However, due to my lack of time, I will be narrowing down coverage to mostly LCCs and non-ANA/JAL carriers. Local commuter airlines flying only specific essential air links will also be omitted.

Airlines that will continue to be covered:
AirAsia Japan [DJ], AIRDO [HD/ADO] (d.b.a. Air Do), Fuji Dream Airlines [JH/FDA], IBEX Airlines [FW/IBX], Jetstar Japan [GK/JJP], Peach Aviation [MM/APJ], Skymark Airlines [BC/SKY], Skynet Asia Airways [6J/SNJ] (d.b.a. Solaseed Air), Spring Airlines Japan [IJ/SJO], Star Flyer [7G/SFJ], Vanilla Air [JW/VNL]

Airlines that will no longer be regularly covered:
Air Japan [NQ/AJX], All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA], Amakusa Airlines [AHX], ANA Wings [EH/AKX], First Flying [DAK], Hokkaido Air System [HC/NTH], J-Air [XM/JLJ], Japan Air Commuter [3X/JAC], Japan Airlines [JL/JAL], Japan Transocean Air [NU/JTA], New Central Airservice [CUK], New Japan Aviation [NJA], Nippon Cargo Airlines [KZ/NCA], Oriental Air Bridge [OC/ORC], Ryukyu Air Commuter [RAC], Toho Air Service [THK]

Topics of ANA and JAL are already well covered by various media, while demand for news regarding local niche commuter airlines has been minimal, at least in English.

In the meantime, I will be experimenting giving the blog a personal touch. Thank you for your support and understanding. Happy travels!

J-Air missed inspections for three Bombardier CRJs.

J-Air [XM/JLJ], the wholly-owned commuter arm of Japan Airlines [JL/JAL], flew three Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER aircraft for up to six months without inspections being carried out on engine-related parts, JAL officials said on June 24th. In order to carry out the checks, the regional airline on June 24th canceled 23 flights affecting 807 passengers, though there were no disruptions the following day.

Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER JA205J at New Chitose serving Sapporo. Deliveries of newer Embraer E-Jets will start later in 2015 to replace CRJs, though J-Air's entire fleet will eventually be standardized on the Mitsubishi MRJ (JAL orders 32 Mitsubishi MRJs and 27 Embraer E-Jets.). (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The three aircraft in concern are CRJ-200ERs JA207J, JA208J, and JA209J, which were delivered in October 2005, December 2005, and March 2006, respectively. The airplanes' structural parts supporting the engines were required for inspection when they reached 22,145 cycles, and once every 11,773 cycles thereafter. However, they went unnoticed without one for up 2,178 flights, or six months. All necessary checks, which found no flaws, were carried out on the night of June 24th.

Technical personnel noticed the three aircraft had missed the check-up when they were updating their maintenance system. Their six other CRJ-200ERs in its fleet are unaffected. J-Air is investigating why it failed to conduct the inspection.

Source: Aviation Wire, June 24th. (in Japanese)

JAL's Pink Ribbon Jet enters service.

On October 10th, Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) unveiled Pink Ribbon Jet, as part of a joint campaign with Estée Lauder Group, a manufacturer of women's skincare, makeup, fragrance, and haircare products, to promote awareness of breast cancer. The specially-themed aircraft, Boeing 777-246 JA8983, entered service on flight JL107, service from Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) to Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO), on the same day.

Boeing 777-246 JA8983 Pink Ribbon Jet taxies at Tokyo's Haneda. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Using the airplane, JAL operated flight JL509 from Haneda to Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) on October 15th under the name Pink Scarf Flight. Cabin attendants wore pink scarves for the occasion, and handed out leaflets explaining how to do a breast self-exam along with pink ribbon badges. For in-flight shopping, a 8,000 JPY Vittorio Godi small leather wallet was introduced as the official campaign product, and a certain share of its sales will be donated to Breast Cancer Network Japan, a patient support community.

The Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign decals will be worn until March 2015. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Started in 2004, the idea for a breast cancer awareness campaign originally came from JAL's employees, the majority of whom are women, like many airlines. JAL's wholly-owned commuter subsidiary J-Air (XM/JLJ) also started participating last year, and operated its own Pink Scarf Flight on the same day on October 15th with flight XM2205, service from Itami to Sendai (SDJ/RJSS).

Reference: Japan Airlines, October 10th. (in Japanese)
Reference: Aviation Wire, October 15th. (in Japanese)

JAL orders 32 Mitsubishi MRJs and 27 Embraer E-Jets.

On August 28th, Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) and Mitsubishi Aircraft jointly announced that they had reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the airline to acquire 32 Mitsubishi Regional Jets (MRJs) with deliveries starting in 2021. It will be operated by JAL's commuter arm J-Air (XM/JLJ). The order is valued at 150 billion JPY at list prices.

Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) in JAL's livery. (Image: Mitsubishi)

At the same time, Japan's second largest carrier also reached an agreement with Embraer for 27 E-Jets, including 15 firm and 12 options. Both the 78-seat ERJ170 (E170), which the currently operates, and the larger 104-seat ERJ190 (E190), which would be a new variant for the airline, were announced, though the breakdown was not specified. Deliveries will start in 2015. J-Air already flies 15 E170s.

Embraer E-Jets in J-Air's livery. The ERJ190 (E190) would be a first for the group. (Image: Embraer)

"I've also taken a look at MRJs factory, and with a new Japanese-built aircraft in front, I was filled with deep emotions. I'm confident that it would be the aircraft for the next generation," said Yoshiharu Ueki, President of JAL. He explained that the order for Brazilian regional jets are a stop-gap measure, probably to replace the Bombardier/Canadair CRJs, and the regional fleet would eventually be standardized on the MRJ, sometime around 2028.

Although plagued by delays, the prototype MRJ will finally be rolled out on October 18th at Mitsubishi's plant at Nagoya/Komaki (NKM/RJNA), with first flight slated for April or May 2015. First delivery to launch customer All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA), which has 25 on order, is expected in 2017. Powered by Pratt & Whitney's PurePower PW1200G series geared turbofan engines, the MRJ family consists of the 78-seat MRJ70, which can fly 3,380 kilometers (2,100 miles), and the 92-seat MRJ90, with a 3,310-kilometer (2,050 miles) range. It is Japan's first commercial airliner since the NAMC YS-11 was introduced in 1965.

Reference: Japan Airlines, August 28th. (in Japanese)
Reference: Japan Airlines, August 28th. (in Japanese)
Reference: Japan Airlines, August 28th. (in Japanese)

JAL starts Summer 2014 seasonal routes.

On August 1st, Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) launched six summer seasonal routes. From Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG), they have launched three-times weekly Kushiro (KUH/RJCK) and four-times weekly Obihiro (OBO/RJCB) service, while from Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO), daily service to Matsumoto (MMJ/RJAF) and Memanbetsu (MMB/RJCM) have been added. Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) sees new four-times weekly service to Izumo (IZO/RJOC) and three-times weekly to Tokushima (TKS/RJOS).

Boeing 737-846(WL) JA314J arrives at Aomori. JAL Express has started to repaint their aircraft with 'Japan Airlines' titles in anticipation of their merger into JAL on October 1st. Catch them while you can. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The seasonal flights from Chubu Centrair and New Chitose are operated with JAL Express' (JC/JEX) (JAL Express to be absorbed by JAL on October 1st.) 165-seat (20 Class J and 145 economy) Boeing 737-800s, while the Itami flights are flown with J-Air's (XM/JLJ) 76-seat (all economy) Embraer ERJ170-100STDs (E170s). All six will operate until August 31st.

Flight Schedule (Aug/1 - Aug/31/2014 only):
Nagoya/Chubu Centrair – Kushiro NEW 3 weekly with 737-800.
JL3131 NGO 1130 – 1320 KUH 73H Tu/Th/Sa *Operated by JAL Express as JC3131.
JL3132 KUH 1450 – 1650 NGO 73H Tu/Th/Sa *Operated by JAL Express as JC3132.

Nagoya/Chubu Centrair – Obihiro NEW 4 weekly with 737-800.
JL3303 NGO 1100 – 1300 OBO 73H Mo/We/Fr/Su *Operated by JAL Express as JC3303.
JL3304 OBO 1520 – 1715 NGO 73H Mo/We/Fr/Su *Operated by JAL Express as JC3304.

Osaka/Itami – Matsumoto NEW 1 daily with E170.
JL2271 ITM 1330 – 1420 MMJ E70 Daily *Operated by J-Air as XM2271.
JL2272 MMJ 1500 – 1555 ITM E70 Daily *Operated by J-Air as XM2272.

Osaka/Itami – Memanbetsu NEW 1 daily with E170.
JL2101 ITM 0815 – 1020 MMB E70 Daily *Operated by J-Air as XM2101.
JL2102 MMB 1050 – 1300 ITM E70 Daily *Operated by J-Air as XM2102.

Sapporo/New Chitose – Izumo NEW 4 weekly with 737-800.
JL3426 CTS 1200 – 1405 IZO 73H Mo/We/Fr/Su *Operated by JAL Express as JC3426.
JL3421 IZO 1455 – 1650 CTS 73H Mo/We/Fr/Su *Operated by JAL Express as JC3421.

Sapporo/New Chitose – Tokushima NEW 3 weekly with 737-800.
JL3436 CTS 1200 – 1355 TKS 73H Tu/Th/Sa *Operated by JAL Express as JC3436.
JL3437 TKS 1455 – 1655 CTS 73H Tu/Th/Sa *Operated by JAL Express as JC3437. 

All of these routes are actually resumptions. Chubu Centrair – Kushiro was suspended in May 2010, Chubu Centrair – Obihiro in October 2010, Itami – Matsumoto in June 2010, Itami – Memanbetsu in April 2005 (moved to Kansai but suspended in March 2009), and both New Chitose – Izumo and New Chitose – Tokushima in March 2011; all during JAL Group's restructuring. Originally announced in January (JAL to resume six domestic routes for Summer 2014.), these routes are probably candidates for a full resumption, as part of JAL's intention to "restart rural routes that are potentially profitable in due course."

JAL looks to replace Bombardier CRJs and Saab SF340s.

Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) is considering placing an order for regional airplanes to replace older commuter jets and turboprops, according to an interview with JAL Chairman Masaru Onishi in Doha, Qatar.

Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER JA208J departs Aomori. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

J-Air's (XM/JLJ) nine Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER and Japan Air Commuter's (3X/JAC) 11 aging Saab SF340Bs are probably the candidates for replacement Mr. Onishi is referring to. J-Air is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JAL, while JAC is controlled 60% by JAL and the remainder by Kagoshima Prefecture and its local governments. The proposal may also include the three SF340Bs of Hokkaido Air System (HC/NTH), in which JAL is expected to increase ownership to 51% during fiscal year 2014.

"The issue will be addressed in the near future," Mr. Onishi stated. Competition for regional jets is likely to involve three companies: Mitsubishi, Embraer, and Bombardier. The Canadian manufacturer and ATR are likely to battle over the turboprop order. Last year, JAL shook the industry by placing a landmark 9.5 billion USD order with the European planemaker for up to 56 Airbus A350 XWBs, including 31 firm examples, to replace their Boeing 777 fleet, after decades of loyalty to the American company.
 
Meanwhile, orders for the A320neo or 737 MAX have been ruled out for the near term, as the airline has judged its 50-strong 737-800 fleet is still in good shape. 70% subsidiary Japan Transocean Air (NU/JTA) also just placed an order for a dozen 737-800s (JTA finalizes order for 12 Boeing 737-800s.) to replace their current 737-400s starting in 2016.

Source: Wall Street Journal, June 2nd. (in English)

J-Air Embraer E170 encounters turbulence over Ibaraki.

On April 29th, J-Air (XM/JLJ) flight XM1252 (marketed as JL1252), service from Yamagata (GAJ/RJSC) to Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT), encountered sudden rough air at 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) over Tsukuba City, Ibaraki prefecture, around 0945, local time. Although no passengers were injured, one flight attendant suffered a pelvic fracture, while the other had a shoulder bruise.

Carrying 35 passengers, two flight attendants, and two cockpit crew, Embraer ERJ170-100STD (E170) JA211J experienced what was likely caused by wake turbulence moments after it had turned on its seat-belt sign in preparation for approach into Tokyo's downtown airport. The two cabin attendants were preparing to make their way through the aisle for final safety checks when it happened. The Brazil-born regional jet made a safe landing at Haneda at 1002 and arrived at the gate at 1015, 15 minutes behind its published time.

Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) has dispatched three investigators. J-Air is the commuter arm of Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) and operates a fleet of 15 E170s and nine Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ERs from its base at Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO).

Source: NHK, April 30th. (in Japanese)
Source: FlyTeam, April 30th. (in Japanese)

J-Air takes delivery of 15th Embraer E170.

On March 20th, J-Air (XM/JLJ) took delivery of Embraer ERJ170-100STD (E170) JA225J new from the Brazilian manufacturer. It arrived at the airline's Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO) hub on March 24th, local time.

Sister Embraer ERJ170-100STD (E170) JA223J arrives at Hanamaki with the beautiful mountains of Towada-Hachimantai in the background. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

This is the 15th and as of now the final E170 (no more order backlog) to be delivered to the JAL Group. The regional arm of Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) is restarting some domestic routes previously flown by mainline (JAL to resume six domestic routes for Summer 2014.), and the E-Jet has become the backbone of their fleet. J-Air also flies nine Canadair CL-600-2B19 200ERs (CRJ200ERs).

Now virtually, JAL has organized its operations in a way that sees most of the regional routes from Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) being operated by lower-cost subsidiary JAL Express (JC/JEX) with Boeing 737-800s and those from Itami being flown by J-Air with E-Jets and CRJs, while mainline JAL is limited to a handful of trunk routes connecting major cities and some high-demand regional routes.

Source: FlyTeam, March 23rd. (in Japanese)

JAL to resume six domestic routes for Summer 2014.

During the Summer 2014 schedule (effective March 30th), Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) will be resuming six domestic routes from August. Most of these were suspended when JAL was restructuring during 2009 - 2010.

Boeing 767-346/ER JA656J 'Doraemon Jet' at Haneda in January 2013. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

New Routes/Resumptions:
Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG) - Kushiro (KUH/RJCK) new 3 weekly with 73H. *August 1 - 31.
Chubu Centrair - Obihiro (OBO/RJCB) new 4 weekly with 73H. *August 1 - 31.
Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO) - Matsumoto (MMJ/RJAF) new 1 daily with E70. *August 1 - 31.
Itami - Memanbetsu (MMB/RJCM) new 1 daily with E70. *August 1 - 31.
Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) - Izumo (IZO/RJOC) new 4 weekly with 73H. *August 1 - 31.
New Chitose - Tokushima (TKS/RJOS) new 3 weekly with 73H. *August 1 - 31.

Frequency Increases:
Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) - Amami (ASJ/RJKA) from 1 to 2 daily.
Fukuoka - Izumo from 2 to 3 daily.
Fukuoka - Kochi (KCZ/RJOK) from 3 to 4 daily.
Itami - Nagasaki (NGS/RJFU) from 3 to 4 daily. 
Itami - Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) from 1 to 2 daily. *3 daily April 29 - May 31.
New Chitose - Memanbetsu from 3 to 4 daily.
Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) - Chubu Centrair from 1 to 2 daily.
Haneda - Ishigaki (ISG/ROIG) from 1 to 2 daily. *July 18 - August 31.
Haneda - Kitakyushu (KKJ/RJFR) from 5 to 6 daily. 
Haneda - Okayama (OKJ/RJOB) from 5 to 6 daily.
Haneda - Naha from 12 to 14 daily.
Haneda - Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) from 2 to 3 daily.
Haneda - Takamatsu (TAK/RJOT) from 6 to 7 daily.
Haneda - Tokushima from 6 to 7 daily.
Haneda - Yamagata (GAJ/RJSC) from 1 to 2 daily.

Frequency Reductions:
Fukuoka - Matsuyama (MYJ/RJOM) from 8 to 6 daily.
Itami - Izumo from 6 to 5 daily.
Itami - Miyazaki (KMI/RJFM) from 6 to 5 daily.
Haneda - Izumo from 6 to 5 daily.
Haneda - New Chitose from 17 to 16 daily.
Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) - Fukuoka from 3 to 1 daily.
Narita - Chubu Centrair from 3 to 2 daily. 
Narita - New Chitose from 3 to 1 daily.

Yamagata will receive its long-awaited second daily service from Haneda, to be operated by J-Air (XM/JLJ). Notable changes include the suspension of many Narita domestic flights, which mostly feed its international operations. Jetstar Japan (GK/JJP), which is partly owned by JAL, has largely expanded its domestic network from Narita, and JAL is using code-sharing on their flights for international connections.

Source: Japan Airlines (in Japanese)

ANA and JAL's First Sunrise Flights.

Happy New Year to all of our readers! I would like to give warm regards and best wishes for a healthy and happy year ahead.

Both domestic majors operated so-called First Sunrise Flight charters, or special early-morning flights on January 1st, which place passengers in the vicinity of Mt. Fuji just as the sun is starting to come up. These sightseeing flights return to the same respective departure airports.

All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) operated two flights from Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT); NH2001 with Boeing 747-481/D JA8961 and NH2014 with Boeing 777-281/ER JA715A, and two flights from Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG); NH2611 with Boeing 767-381 JA8569 and NH2020 with Boeing 737-881 JA57AN. Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) operated two from Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA); JL4901 with Boeing 767-346/ER JA612J and JL4903 with Boeing 737-846 JA304J, and one from Haneda; JL2611 with Boeing 767-346 JA8988. JAL Group's other flights were J-Air's (XM/JLJ) XM3955 from Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) with Embraer ERJ170-100STD JA221J and Japan Transocean Air's (NU/JTA) NU2014 from Chubu Centrair with Boeing 737-4Q3 JA8939.

This would be the last time the Boeing 747-400D is used for the occasion, as the remaining three examples with ANA are slated for retirement by March. JA8966 is the next to be phased out at the end of January, and JA8960 and JA8961 will be the last two. The 565-seat aircraft currently only serves the Haneda - Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) and Haneda - Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) routes.